The Value of Comparing an Energy Management Program with Those in Other Industries

Abstract

Lafarge North America, a large producer of cement and construc-
tion materials with an annual capacity of over 20 million tonnes, oper-
ates 19 cement manufacturing plants in Canada and the U.S, as well
as five grinding facilities. The company’s production represents over 35
percent of Canadian and 12 percent of U.S. cement industry capacity.
Cement is sold primarily for the manufacturing of ready-mix concrete
manufacturing and other concrete products. Lafarge’s significant con-
struction material activities include manufacture and sale of ready-mix
concrete, construction aggregates, other concrete products, and asphalt
and road constructions. The company has operations at more than 450
locations, and aside from cement and ready-mix plants includes quarry,
sand and gravel sites, asphalt plants, and concrete plants.
Energy management is an important part of the operation of
Lafarge’s Cement Division. This article will describe the current Lafarge
energy management program by focusing on its successes, challenges,
sustainability, organization, and people mobilization. It will examine
Lafarge’s goals for energy management and the challenges in achiev-
ing them. Finally, an analysis of the similarities of criteria for success
in energy management between Lafarge, 3M, and Corning will be pre-
sented. The comparison will demonstrate the value of cross-industry
comparisons and their ability to improve energy management among
diverse businesses.